17/10/12

Building the Body

Matthew 5:1,2 - And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,


We read about today's scripture even though there was a large crowd of people following Jesus, He went to the mountain separating Himself from them, and His disciples followed Him. It was at this time Jesus gave one of His best teachings which was not parables but also had some amount of solid food. Compared to today's preachers we see them giving one of their best teachings only before a large crowd otherwise they hardly talk about the Lord.

When we see today's churches and ministries we see people from years and years at the same spiritual stage, hardly growing. About a few days back I was discussing this with a few elders of a church who came on house visits. They stated the fact that the church has people who have stepped in for the first time and also those who have just started knowing Jesus so it is not possible to teach deeper things and take topics which are hard. But then I asked them about those in the church who have been in Lord since year how much have they grown and they were quiet.

Day before yesterday I came to know of a ministry wherein the main leaders separated because one found the other's teaching not in line with scriptures. Guess what the topic was - it was about Satan! I know of Satan breaking ministries but this was the first time I saw him do it this way.

One said God made Satan and the other felt God could have made an evil being like Satan. Both knew for sure deep within them Satan did not exist from the beginning like God so he was indeed created but yet they could not agree to it because they lived on spiritual milk for years and when a little hard morsel came into their mouth they started to choke.

Search and let me know if you find churches and ministries which have internal Bible study groups that debate within themselves on difficult topics, that dig deep into scriptures. It is a shame when you find great church leaders hardly knowing Jesus and the Word of God in its depth. They survive on anointing and gifts. These things are good but when the boat rocks it is only our grip on the Rock of Truth which will save us. Preachers do good preaching these days tanks to the internet, they download teachings of others make a few customization and claim it as their teachings. The stale Manna is circulated and none strive for fresh Manna, pounder on it, bake it and make Living Bread for their congregation. Max they distribute Manna by quoting scriptures as they are.

The root problem of all this is many teach the Bible (including Bible colleges) but do not teach how one should study the Bible. When the basic structure of the Bible (books) is not understood and how one should approach these books to reach its enormous depths of knowledge and understanding. Almost 95 percent people think they are teaching the Word of God but are actually giving only the Gospel. The Gospel is like a trailer and the Word of God is the full movie. People look at the trailer and think they know the whole story of the movie.

It is time we see less of children of Israel and see more of Israel, people of God who are matured in the Lord, people who know the Lord and walk in His ways, people having authority of the King of Kings.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord we prayer for the Church which is your Body. Even though it has been more than 200 years since we received the Holy Spirit yet we having been not letting the Spirit of God minister unto us. We prefer man and his worldly teachings over what the Spirit talks to us. As man and as a child You too studied scriptures and grew in knowledge and wisdom with the help of the Holy Spirit and had Angels ministering to You. Lord Jesus being perfect man yet You confessed You did not know all things, for things are kept away from man for the right time to be revealed. Lord Jesus as man You did not continue to teach your disciples but bought them to a stage where they can be ministered by your Spirit, for You know no man including yourself as man could not take the place of the ultimate Teacher - the Spirit of Truth. Holy Spirit, become the Teacher of the Church. Give us more and more people who will build the foundation like Jesus did so that You can minister to us and be our foundation...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
John 16:7-15
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Luke 10:22-24
22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
23 And he turned him to his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see:
24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.

Matthew 23:5-10
5 But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi [spiritual teacher] : for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father [Provider] on the earth: for one is your Father [Provider], even he who is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, even the Christ.

Matthew 25:13 - Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.

Mark 13:32 - But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Matthew 24:3-14
3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.


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